FF: Milestones (Sequel to Unexpected Consequences)

[nika]

Another awsome chapter Lisa. I can't wait for Willow to have a little chat with her mother about certain things. Oh and ditto on the replies, don't feel obligated, if it cuts in on your personal or writing time. I for one already know that you value and respect every reader. Thank you for another great part.

[barnabasvamp]

All of your work is sooo well written, although this one is truly turning out to be my fav.

Looking foreward to the parental confrontation. The interaction with the guardians is great! Keep up the great work.

Patiently waiting for the next part

[kathy94]

Great update!!! I love when Brianna was telling Willow how to hold Megan. Can't wait to see what Willow says to her mom!

"Can you just be kissing me now?" Tara- Entropy

"She's my everything"
Willow-Tough Love

[tarawillow66]

I loved the update! Bri is sooo cute! when she was holding megan(the best name in the world ever).......ah it was adroable!!!!!

i can't wait for another udate.

much love

megan

[LostSoul]

Lisa,



Thanks so much for the update. This has got to be my favorite fic that I am reading right now.



As usual, you keep things interesting.



I can't wait to see Willow confront her parents, especialy her mother!



More, more, more



Thanks again,

LostSoul


_____________________________


"I remember you." - Amber Benson

[fairydust]

LISA!!!!

I LOVED THE UPDATE



It was awesome how Ira actually got scared of Tara for a minute. Too bad they dont realize how much Willow loves Tara. If they did, they would not mess with them...



So, uh, when's Bri gonna get her huge phone bill lol



I absolutely cannot wait for the update but, i will *sigh*

*****Faye*****I LOVE YOU JENNA
Shameless self promotion....visit my website, dont have too much on there, but I think It's worth a look
http://www.geocities.com/photofairy2004/index.html

[Lonewolf22]

Lisa of Nine: Great update, very cool having Tara teaching Brianna all about breast-feeding Megan, and Brianna asking so many questions, she really does take after her mommy.



I LOVED it when Ira got scared, that'll teach him to mess with Tara, and I actually laughed a bit when Ira thought that Willow would be upset that Tara threatened him if anything happened to Brianna and Megan, I mean C'mon please, Ira really doesn't his daughter at all. Also very cool having Tara become a Mage.



THANK YOU again for Willow being OK, I was so glad when she woke up and saw that Tara, Brianna, and Megan were all there with her.



I'm dying to find out what Willow has to say to her so-called parents, no offence but I hope she kicks them to the curb and never sees them again, I know they're her parents but C'mon. I can't wait to read more.



Lonewolf

[amberbensontotallyrules4e]

First thing: I love your stories so much. They totally rock.

Also, am I the only person who (going off topic a little) felt kinda sorry for Buffy in UC? Who can blame her for crushing on Tara tho? I'm sometimes strange, but I found myself half wishing for Buffy and Tara to get it on. Of course the other 22/23 of me want Tara and Willow to be toghetha 4eva. Doesn't add up Ino, but not much about me does.

[WebWarlock]

Loved Tara's mage abilities growing. I hope Ira wet himself!



The sanctuary is partt of the UK. Yeah, I can see that.



Bri and Megan are so cute! I love little kids so anything with little kids in it makes me happy.



Shelia in a holding cell! Thar also made me happy.



Now Brent is what age does for you. That quiet calm that comes with wisdom.



Excellent all around!



Warlock

-----

Web Warlock

The Other Side, home of Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks

Gypsy: Tom, I don't get you.
Tom Servo: Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind.- Mystery Science Theatre 3000

[JewWitch18]

awesome update lisa! and yeah, I'm coming out in favor of the don't-worry-about-feedback camp. we just post to encourage you to write more stories, after all!



high points of this update:



-- lisa = detail queen! you never miss a chance to show us a little moment inside brianna's head (such a smart little bean-- she is *so* willow's child!) like when she whispered in willow's hospital room, remembering when tara had been sick and willow told her that sick people needed sleep...or when she instructed willow on how to hold the baby's head, with the soggy noodle metaphor that tara gave her. you continue to do such an amazing job of characterizing this little miracle!



of course, the breastfeeding scene was a beautifully tender family moment, made me ache to see willow wake up and be part of it ("snack milk"...LMAO). and the disoriented moment when willow woke up and the smell made her remember why she was in the hospital-- I can certainly relate to that one (unfortunately...) very accurate. and Ira! damn, I was beginning to like him in the last few updates. too bad that now he's finally shown some spine, it's against tara and not his pussy-whipping wife (am I allowed to say that?)



poor gentle tara, though, worrying that willow's mad at her for making her parents move to the guest house... "why aren't they in the holding cell where they belong?!" indeed! can't wait to see willow go off all over her mom. and I know you didn't invoke tara's mage-y goodness for nothing (I thought we were gonna see some serious old-school magical ass-kicking right then!) can't wait to see where this is all headed!

[Sweetjane]

hey lisa , just wanted to let you know i am loving Milestones , as i love UC



when i read your writing on willow and tara as mothers , i'm moved , your writing is so detailed , tentative and it encaptures exactly the kind of relationship and motherhood willow and tara would share. it's not often that i can be moved by a 'story' , but the way you write on their motherhood , you really strike a chord with me . When i read Unexpected Consequences , i was tearful when reading about taras loss of Brianna , just as i am warmed by your descriptions of Brianna growing up , and will and tara taking care of their babies



i just wanted to thankyou for the passion and effort you put into your writing , as i really value it .



Sweetjane



ps. please don't see this as a way of me chivying you along for an update

"....we got high on travel and we got drunk on alcohol , and on love , the strongest poison and medicine of all" - Joni Mitchell

Edited by: Sweetjane  at: 9/15/02 5:39:38 pm

[Lisa of Nine]

Hey all,

thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback. I must say that I love hearing which sections/scenes people like most. That way I can make sure to write more of those...and NO, I will not post an all smut chapter! ;-)



I read the replies and it really helped cheer me up. Thank you. I am writing an extremely upsetting scene and all the kind words really helped get me through. The road ahead has some huge bumps for Willow and Tara, but have no fear ... they will always end up happy in my world.



Thanks again!

Lisa

[fairydust]

no all smut chapter Well, thats okay..... just so long as there's a little



So, the next parts gonna be sad huh....well, I know that with the girls in your hands and not evil Joss man's, it will end very happy. With a big lack of bullet wounds(in tara)

*****Faye*****
Shameless self promotion....visit my website, dont have too much on there, but I think It's worth a look
http://www.geocities.com/photofairy2004/index.html
Also, if anyone wants to add me to MSN messenger, my email is buffyslayer_4@hotmail.com
PLEASE>I HAVE NO FRIENDS!!!!!LOL

[peggy of sunnydale]

okay all for the rough times we all have to go thrue them but im just wondering when im impatient when it comes to this story im sooooorry for pushing this but im really looking foward to the next one, hope willow tells sheila to go f$%&# herself and that she cant see the children again



thank you

[Grimlock72]

Niiiice story. I esp. liked Brianna calling for defense, must have read that part at least 6 times by now. I really wasn't all that worried that something would actually happen to Brianna, kinda unlikely with an entire guard around . Still sucks that she had to go through such an experience though.



Only thing that bugged me was: " Brigh didn’t add that had Brianna called out "execute" instead of "defend," the elder Rosenberg would have been sliced into neat little pieces like a shrimp at Beni Hana." I really don't think it's wise to have a 5 year old (no matter how smart) be able to give such orders.



Other then that I was wondering about the legal stuff. Even if Brianna were Willows child, taking her anywhere while Willow is unconsious would be kidnapping. Even if Willow had died (heaven forbid) they would still need a court-order to actually take Brianna wouldn't they ??



From the replies I gather that such horrible actions are actually done in the US ? (i.e. deny a parent her kid 'cos you don't agree with her way of life).



Can't Willow and Tara get some living-together-contract which would at least handle access to the children/hospital and such ? (power of attorney ?)



Over here in the Netherlands I don't see suc a problem happen anytime soon. Besides being able to marry, have a living-together-contract, they would be considered a Parental Couple since they've lived together for 5 years at least, and as such both partners of such a couple have the same rights to their kids. (though I recommend getting either married or a contract anyway, just to be sure)



Hmmm.. the longer I think about this, the more angry I get. This doesn't really happen in the States does it ?



Or as a judge once said over here: "you really think you can raise [kid] better then [girlfriend/so] who has lived with the child for 3 years ? If so, please motivate...". Yes, there do live some ignorant people in this country... to bad for them they have no laws to help them with their evil schemes.



Not to mention they always claim "it is better for the child".



I'll stop ranting now.



Grimmy

"Willow’s magic got out of control, and your response was to fight her with even more magic.Do you make a habit of putting out fires with gasoline?" Tara to Giles -- Mission Statement (ch9.5) by Bagheera

[tiyodragon]

Yes Grimlock. It's sad, but true. Look at the mess going on in Florida at the moment.



Children can be taken from their families just because their gay. Hell, Texas still has a sodomy law. As long as it's illegal, the bible thumpers have an upper hand in the court room.



It's easy for folks to forget sometimes that our country isn't very old. Progressive in some states, opressive in others. Our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. Our forefathers were thieves, smugglers, pirates, and con men....should we really expect their decendents to have grown out of it already?



*okay...going to quietly step off my soapbox now***



tiyodragon

[Cordy]

Quote:

---

...they will always end up happy in my world.

---

Can I live in your world, Lisa please?

I promise you I'll hate Joss till the end of my days. ¡That's so easy!



I think maybe it's right to have Brianna with the power of make "execute" orders. I mean, outside the santuary there is one angry Witches Committe which would kill her if they knew that she will be the imbolic mage. Maybe, she need something more than just defence, although I'm pretty sure that Cery is wise enough for slice somebody into neat little pieces like a shrimp at Beni Hana if they try to hurt Brianna, even in "defend" mode.



Thanks Lisa!



Cordy

----------------
 

...love is love no matter what gender or animal you may be!!

- Amber Benson (05/12/00 - Bronze)

[Always E]

Just wanted to drop in and tell you how much I'm enjoying this story. Not that I haven't enjoyed all the other wonderful fic of yours I've read. Foot...Mouth...Sorry.



The conversations between Willow, Tara, & Brianna are just perfect. The whole different sizes bit when Tara explained breastfeeding had me laughing out loud. Of course since I'm supposed to be working instead of reading fanfic, my assistant thinks I'm nuts. It keeps her on her toes though.



I also have to say that I can't wait to read Willow's "chat" with her mom...something about the tempers of redheads comes to mind. Thanks for writing this, it makes the travesty of season six blur nicely. Thanks also for all the great links to vent about the wrongness of it all. I have made good use of them. I'll look forward to your next post.



-E

[NewRuthRising]

Upsetting??????????????????????????? Nah, I trust Lisa. She'll make it better. I love this story! Go Brianna!



Ruth

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes I get the distinct impression that none of us are as cool as we think we are. Hm. - Tommo

[Lisa of Nine]

Folks seem concerned about the custody issue and how and why Willow's parent's could get involved. I'll try to explain. ;-)



Grimlock asked:

"From the replies I gather that such horrible actions are actually done in the US ? (i.e. deny a parent her kid 'cos you don't agree with her way of life)."



Sadly yes. My story is set up so that Willow's parent think that Tara only carried Brianna. This would mean that according to what they know, Willow is the biological mother and Tara was nothing more than a vessel to bring Brianna into the world. How could Willow's parents see that?



Well, if two women were raising a child (this is true in most parts of the US) and the birth mother died, the "mother's" lover is seen as nothing more than a 'legal stranger.' The birth mother's parent- or other blood relatives- could come in and demand custody. (Couples can make complex and expensive legal arrangements, but those can be challenged. Some "gay adoptions" are going through, but in many states (Hello Florida!) gays cannot legally adopt children.) So, could Willow's parent's take the children? In many states yes. In some states, Willow's parents could take the children from Willow.



There was a case in a southern state where two lesbians were raising a son. the BIRTH mother's mom, the child's maternal grandmother- decided that lesbians should not be allowed to raise HER grandchild. She sued for custody and won. The court found that, while the two women showed no signs of any parental misconduct (i.e.: they were found to be good parents) the court ruled that being a lesbian was just cause to remove the child from the BIRTH mother.



So yes. This threat is real. (However in California the Rosenberg's would be hard pressed to take the kids from Willow. Still, without a stack of legal papers, they could give Tara a nasty custody battle that Tara could lose.)



I chose this story-line because I think this very real threat gives us a "big Bad" much scarier than any vampire (Well, pale, pasty, bare-chested Spike gives me nightmares, but that's another story)



Hope this answers some of the questions.

Thanks for reading and for the feedback!

Lisa

[sparrow]

oh, why do I have this flock of bats flying around in my stomach cause I just know that evil Sheila is bringing her pack of lawyers to take the children away. She is evil and must be destroyed. Please don't let Willoe get sicker due to the up coming confrontation with the evil bitch death monster Sheila.

And, yet, I just can't seem to care


TRUST NO ONE

[WebWarlock]

Yes it can and it does. All the time.



I applaud Lisa for taking on this socially aware issue in her story. Not something every writer can do (like Whedon) or should do (like Whedon).



What has struck me most about this story is the lack of magic use. Yes we see Tara's burgining Mage ability but there is a complete lack of (in the idom) "vulgar" magics. This is a very "real" story in that sense. Ok, granted there is that whole parthenogenesis magic, but that is a means to the ends here and it contrasts what we know with what everyone else knows. That despite the fact that Bri and Megan are Willow and Tara's biological daughters, the state will never recognize that.



The trouble with Shelia is she is Willow's mother and despite all I believe she loves Willow and wants to do what she thinks is best. This does make her a worst Big Bad than a mythological vampire.



In a sense this is what Whedon, etal tried to do with BMW and failed. I can sympathisize with Shelia as a parent, and still find her morally repugnant and an alltogether worthless mother.



Tara, the "legal stranger" is 100 times the mother Shelia ever was.



This is a big issue this election year in Illinois as well. You can be certain that my vote and my wife's (this is a big issue for her) are going to be in favor of mothers like Willow and Tara.



Sorry for the political rant. Back to Lisa's wonderful story.



Warlock

-----

Web Warlock

The Other Side, home of Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks

Gypsy: Tom, I don't get you.
Tom Servo: Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind.- Mystery Science Theatre 3000

[Tawilove]

First of all, i've been lurking around long enough to read all your fics (at least all i found!) and i'm quite ashamed that i didn't make any feedback before today, so sorry for that!!

Then let me tell you you're an amazing writer (professinal?), and there are so many nice comments i could make about how incredible your stories are but i think i would lack the words (part of it cause english is not my mother language) so i would simply say, you're the best and thanks!

« I'm under your spell,
Nothing I can do, you just took my soul with you »

- Tara Maclay -

[Amymlc]

Thanks for clearing that up. I feel sooo sick to my stomach that this stuff happens. Have you ever seen that movie "What Makes Family?" It's about a lesbian couple having a child and the birth mother dying and the grandparents take the kid. I think it was in Florida and is the only case were the lesbian parent won. I am glad you are addressing it. I think people and stupidity are far scarier than any blood sucking vampire. Thanks for clearing everything up again. Keep up the good work! I am so totally your minion now



Amy

They were right, I'm a homo--But I'm a Cheerleader

[JewWitch18]

yeah, this is really one of those cases where you don't need to stay up all night researching demon mythology to think up the scariest big bad of the season. lisa, I think it's really REALLY great that you're writing about something so relevant here. because, like web warlock said, the magic really isn't the issue for this story (so far), and yeah, this could happen to anyone (and often does). the case you're thinking of in florida, amy, happened in the 80's and yes, the non-biological mom did win in the end, but the daughter was with the grandparents for a good ten years in between, so the damage was definitely done. that was a groundbreaking case, though... in the states, if you want security for your gay family, you still need to get those adoption papers pretty much before the baby's even born. unless you live in northampton, massachusetts, that is-- and I highly suggest that you do! alternately known as "dyke disneyland" and "lesbian mecca," my 4 years there as an undergrad pretty much made me forget about the straight world outside my bubble. there are as many kids in elementary school in that town with two moms as with a dad. willow and tara could always flee there with bri and megan... they'd blend right in!



****mad props for social consciousness****

[MOUSE]

Lisa an amazing continuation of this story.



This story has touched me in so many ways. My girlfriend and I are talking about having a child, and everything going on in your story just expresses one of my fears about having children.

I haven't investigated the laws where I live, in Australia, but I want to start a family with my eyes wide open. Some of my in-laws (or out-laws), are the type to interfere if something happened to my partner. Hell, we might even loose some family members if we ever get pregnant. But that's their lose.

It's so sad that in todays age, we even have to go through this.

Great story Lisa, and you are brave to tackle these issues. At least I know with your story the ending will be joyful. The journey painful, but the ending worth while.

[blameburner]

Lisa, once again you have sucked me into a compelling and extremely well-written story. I think what I love most about your stories as how well you mix humor and drama, without it seeming forced. Life is so very much like that, and you capture it beautifully.



I, too, applaud your choice of storylines thus far. It's a difficult issue to write about without making it come out one sided - you do an amazing job of not completely bashing one side. While I want to hate Shiela and Ira for what they are doing, and their astounding ignorance, I find that I can't hate them - because you have shown that, misguided and terrible as their actions are, they have descent intentions. It's obvious you disagree with them, and yet the reader is still able to see their side (to an extent). I think that's an example of how talented you are... it is very difficult to write a viewpoint that makes your stomach turn and your blood boil. And I agree - they are a true "big bad," the worst kind of bad, because they truly think they are right and doing what's best for their granddaughter.



Brilliant, as ever.

"I feel like someone ran me down with a car, and then got out to give me a really great pair of shoes." - sassyeggsglobal

[zero]

Really enjoying the latest installments and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all turns out. Thanks.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. And inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx

[Sassette]

Has it been so long?

How I have missed the haiku.

It warms me inside.



-Sass

[EffieBlue]

I love this story line. Having been through it twice here in the UK. The first time my partners mother, had our daughter stay with her, she refused to return her, citing that our life style was not a good environment to bring up a child. then refusing to even let my partner visit our daughter except for one week end a month. We did eventually win that and got our daughter back.



Then a few years later, we broke up and my partner left. Leaving our daughter with me. Once granny got the news she tried to take My daughter again. so another lenghty court case ensued where I was continually told I had absolutely no chance of winning, I was not a blood relative, I was out as a lesbian, there was no legal precedent except the ones where the cases had been lost. To help her case, Granny got every other available family member to put in a claim for custody, to show the united family front. It really is a very very scary thing to do, to sit in a judges chambers, on your own, across from a whole family each with their own lawyer, having all of them one after the other telling the judge what an unsuitable person you are as a mother.



However, the Judge, after reading Psychiatrists reports..(I was beginning to think I was crazy my self....) social workers reports and the report of the solicitor appointed to look after my daughters interests, decided I was infact pretty ok at being a mother and it was in the best interests of the child to stay with me. That was nearly 5 years ago and we are still a very happy mother and daughter family. My daughter no longer visits any of her birth mothers relatives, out of her own choice she decided she couldn't stand her granny continually referring to me as "That Woman"... (I actually thought it was rather amusing ) and she refused to visit until she stopped calling me that. she couldn't bring herself to stop. She has since decided it was all a Gay conspiracy and everyone who wrote the reports and the Judge were gay so she never stood a chance.



Yup..it was just all a big Gay romp.



Intolerant bigots really are The Big Bads of the world and it takes a lot of loving magic to beat them. but it can be done.

*****************
strange to say, I didn't really like carol singers. There was something rather eerie about people turning up unexpectedly around the door and starting to sing." Hannah Hauxwell. seasons of my life.